Cost benefit and life cycle analysis of CFRP and GFRP waste treatment methods

Abstract

• Cost benefit and life cycle analysis is performed for 10 FRP recycling treatments. • Thermal recycling methods require low energy input and total investment. • Solvolysis provides the highest benefit and net profit. • Electrochemical method has highest CED with 75% from renewable energy sources. • Mechanical has the lowest GWP impact then solvolysis, electrochemical and thermal. The high growth usage of carbon and glass fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP and GFRP) composites has led to production of a substantial amount of FRP waste. Currently, landfilling and incineration are common waste treatment methods for FRP composites which may result in environmental issues and exploitation of raw materials. During the last decades, various recycling methods have been developed to provide more sustainable solutions for FRP waste management. This research evaluates the environmental and financial viability of ten different CFRP and GFRP waste treatment methods via life cycle analysis (LCA), cost benefit analysis (CBA) and the technology readiness level (TRL) assessment. The results from CBA analysis show that solvolysis provides the highest profit amongst FRP recycling treatment methods while its performance can vary when different chemical solutions are used. Two of thermal recycling methods such as pyrolysis and pyrolysis plus oxidation also show high return for investment. LCA is carried out based on cumulative energy demand (CED) and global warming potential impact (GWP) of each treatment methods. Results indicate that thermal recycling methods require low energy input to achieve reasonable economic benefit, while there is a large electricity demand required by electrochemical method for obtaining similar profit as thermal recycling. Global warming potential impact analysis shows that solvolysis and electrochemical methods can lead to reduction of greenhouse gases during life cycle of FRP. The outcomes of this research provide valuable guidelines for waste treatment selection and market outlook of CFRP and GFRP recycling techniques.